FOR RELEASE: July 15, 2006

Contact: Katherine McLane or Casey Ruberg (202) 401-1576

South Bend, Indiana ― U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today delivered the commencement address to the Notre Dame Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) Master's Program. She discussed the important role Catholic educators play in reaching out to students, families, and communities in need. Following are her prepared remarks:

Thank you Father Scully for your kind introduction. Yes, it's true, I am the first mother of school-aged children to be Secretary of Education and no offense, but what took them so long!

I'm honored to mark this tremendous occasion with the Notre Dame Alliance for Catholic Education.

Graduates, congratulations on all your hard work! You're here because you believe that every life has value and dignity, every child has potential, and every student deserves a quality education. And as a parent and a policymaker, I want to say thank you ― job well done.

Take a good look around at your family, friends, loved ones, teachers, and mentors. These are the people who helped you get here today-and they deserve a round of applause.

One of those helpers is Joe Hollowell, the father of your classmate Tony. Joe drove from Indiana to Mississippi after the hurricanes last Fall to help his son rebuild a flooded school. He collected thousands of dollars in donations overnight... and then he drove more than 600 miles to join Tony for the clean up.

I know you won't be surprised to hear that Joe Hollowell is a Catholic school principal.

There's an amazing spirit of optimism and generosity in this community-thanks to talented, hardworking educators like you. I've seen it myself-my oldest daughter Mary got a top-notch education at a Catholic high school, and I'm proud to say that my younger daughter Grace will enroll there this fall.

America's Catholic schools are national treasures ― and thanks to a terrific faculty and staff, ACE is one of the most successful teacher training programs in our country.

ACE finds the most talented young people in our nation, including teachers of every race and background-as many men as women. It gives them practical advice for the classroom, plus a terrific support system. And as a result, more than 3 out of 4 graduates stay in education beyond your service to ACE.

I'm glad to see this model is working and expanding ― ten other universities have adopted it, with more to follow. The more successful teachers we train, the more our country ― and our students ― benefit.

We live in a world that is changing faster than ever. When I was in school, "Googling," "TiVoing," and "blogging" weren't even words. I won't even get into "online dating."

Author Harper Lee says that in today's world "people have laptops, cell phones, Ipods... and minds like empty rooms." It's our job to help students fill those rooms with knowledge and skills that will benefit them every single day for the rest of their lives.

I don't need to tell you that teaching is more than a job ― it's a calling.

As undergraduates, you excelled at some of the finest universities in the world. You could have gone on to succeed in any field you imagined.

You didn't take this job for fame or fortune. You took it for the love of the kids, and the love of making a difference. Some people are surprised you made that choice. But I'm not, because I see the same thing you do every time I walk into a classroom: your kids inspire you, they look up to you, and thanks to you, they love learning.

As teachers, you'll leave a legacy unmatched by any other profession. Over the course of your career, you'll improve the quality of life not just for the children you teach... but for their children, their children's children, and so on down the line.

Over time, you'll touch thousands of lives, and millions of people will benefit from your work. Every single one of us can think back to a teacher who helped us get where we are today.

It's no secret that yours is one of the hardest jobs around ― especially when you're working in the areas of greatest need.

Unfortunately, throughout our country, you're most likely to find the most experienced or most skilled teachers in our most privileged communities. But you looked for the places where you could make the biggest difference.

For example, in Kansas City, your classmate Francisco Ramirez was the first male Latino teacher his fourth graders had encountered... even though the school was 95 percent Hispanic. He was one of only three faculty members who spoke Spanish, so he stayed late to translate for parents or other teachers. And even though he's officially done with his service, he's going back next year to stay.

Francisco knows that with his help, there's no limit to what his students can achieve.

When I hear people say they don't think it's possible to have every student reading and doing math on grade level, I always wonder... does that mean they're volunteering their child to be left behind? I certainly don't want that for my daughters, and I'm pretty sure most parents agree. I know you do, too.

In public education, it used to be acceptable to let some kids fall through the cracks. If a school wasn't living up to its responsibilities, parents had no other options.

But with No Child Left Behind, President Bush and the Congress led our nation in a commitment to have every child learning on grade level by 2014.

This law is holding States and schools accountable for achieving that goal ― and when they don't, it gives parents more choices ― like free tutoring, or the ability to transfer their child to a better-performing school. In Washington, DC, we've given almost 1,700 low-income students the chance to attend the private or parochial school of their choice... and we're working to provide similar options for students elsewhere.

To Catholic educators, aiming high is nothing new. Long before we set our national imperative, you were working for a moral one.

After the hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast last Fall, the New Orleans Archdiocese took in every single student who applied ― whether they'd been in a Catholic school or not. And for families who couldn't afford tuition, they didn't charge a dime.

The Baton Rouge Diocese accepted 4,000 students ― regardless of their ability to pay. Why? Because it was nothing new for them. Wherever you find students in need, you'll find a Catholic school that's making a difference and meeting a need.

To keep the system diverse, Catholic schools reach out to low-income, minority, and immigrant communities. To keep academic quality high, they often work longer days and stretch the school year into the summertime. And to keep tuition affordable, they often set tuition rates lower than the actual cost of educating each child.

And it works: 99 percent of your students will graduate from high school, and 97 percent will go on to college. That's a tremendous accomplishment... and it's a strong reminder that we can't afford to lose any of these schools. Like I said before, Catholic schools are national treasures.

At a time when 90 percent of the fastest-growing jobs require higher education, we need every school in America to have success rates like yours. And with your help, we're on our way to achieving that goal.

As teachers, you know that with high expectations, anything is possible.

I've always liked the story of the college student who got a C on his final paper because his idea was implausible. The idea, an overnight delivery service. The student, Fred Smith. You may know him better as the CEO of FedEx.

Don't let anyone else take the measure of your worth and capabilities. Always stand proud in who you are!

Your parents raised you to do right by yourself and others. Whenever you find yourself struggling, think of these people, and remember your focus and your faith.

Good advice from my own mother, Peg, has gotten me through a lot of rough moments. It's the rare situation when I don't hear her voice uttering one of her famous ― or infamous ― "Pegisms."

A few of my favorites: "You need loving most when you're most unlovable!"

"How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice."

And I'm sure it was the same for you... when we went on vacation, my mother had us pray to Saint Christopher. If somebody lost something, we'd pray to Saint Anthony. And if that doesn't work, there's always Saint Jude ― the patron saint of lost causes!

Many of you can probably think of words of wisdom your mom says all the time. And trust me, one day you'll say something and you'll stop in horror and realize, "I sound just like my mother!"

Being a mom has been my most important job and the greatest joy of my life. My girls have taught me more than I'd like to admit, and they keep me grounded and focused on what counts.

I know your students do the same for you-and if you're lucky enough to be parents someday, so will your own children. Your classmate Sarah Miller says that if grown ups could handle tough situations like her third graders do, we'd all be better off.

My fellow Texan, Lance Armstrong has a saying inspired by his mom. "Pain is temporary, but quitting is forever." Anything worth anything takes some doing, takes sacrifice. To seize life and live fully invites the potential for pain and disappointment. But that's the risk you take so that you can stand proud knowing you've lived, you've played, while countless others never got off the bench.

Don't forget the greatest obstacle in life isn't failure; it's fear. Fear keeps you on the sidelines playing it safe, convincing yourself risks are for daredevils and greatness reserved for others. Yet, the reality is when you play it safe, the only guarantee you get is that you'll live with regret.

As I tell my girls. Stand and Deliver.

When I first got to the White House I felt completely out of my element ... surrounded by Ivy Leaguers. But, I stood and delivered... I did my best. And before long I was meeting with Senators, flying on Air Force One, and helping the President perfect his pronunciations. We're still working on "nucular."

And if you fail, try again. As we say in Texas, "If all you ever do is all you've ever done, then all you'll ever get is all you ever got."

As you go forward ― as teachers, and in any other task you put your mind to ― know that faith, family, and friends will never fail you. Mother Teresa said, "Love begins at home." Love your family, and love your neighbor. Treat people well, including yourself. Exercise. Work for a boss you like and admire. Don't get consumed by your job. Don't take yourself too seriously.

Even when you're not sure where you're heading, don't be afraid to take risks... and don't let anything or anyone narrow your dreams for the future. May today be the beginning of a new journey and a great adventure, and may you continue to live well and with purpose.

Thank you. And congratulations!

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